Drug touted by Trump to treat COVID-19 linked to higher death risk - study

[rooster59]

Drug touted by Trump to treat COVID-19 linked to higher death risk - study

By Michael Erman and Ankur Banerjee

 

FILE PHOTO: A pharmacy worker shows pills of hydroxychloroquine used to treat the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the CHR Centre Hospitalier Regional de la Citadelle Hospital in Liege, Belgium, April 22, 2020. REUTERS/Yves Herman

 

(Reuters) - The anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine, which U.S. President Donald Trump says he has been taking and has urged others to use, was tied to an increased risk of death in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, a large study published on Friday showed.

 

In the study https://www.thelancet.com/lancet/article/s0140673620311806 that looked at more than 96,000 people hospitalized with COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus, those treated with hydroxychloroquine or the related chloroquine had higher risk of death and heart rhythm problems than patients who were not given the medicines.

 

The study, published in the Lancet medical journal, showed no benefit for coronavirus patients taking the drugs.

 

Demand for the decades-old hydroxychloroquine has surged as Trump repeatedly promoted its use against the coronavirus, urging people to try it. "What have you got to lose?" he asked.

 

Trump said this week he has been taking hydroxychloroquine as a preventative medicine despite a lack of scientific evidence.

 

The Lancet study authors suggested that hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine should not be used to treat COVID-19 outside of clinical trials until studies confirm their safety and efficacy in such patients.

 

There is a frantic search for drugs to treat COVID-19 at the same time that multiple research teams pursue a safe and effective vaccine to combat a pathogen that has killed more than 335,000 people worldwide and sickened millions more.

 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has allowed healthcare providers to use the drugs for COVID-19 through an emergency-use authorization, but has not approved them to treat it.

 

Dr. Mandeep Mehra, one of the study's authors, said the research shows that the FDA should withdraw that authorization.

 

"That will help move this towards more, stronger evidence because it will then force the use of these drugs only in the setting of control trials," Mehra said in an interview. "That would be an extremely wise decision."

 

The FDA has said that, for safety reasons, hydroxychloroquine should be used only for hospitalized COVID-19 patients or those in clinical trials. The drug has been tied to dangerous heart rhythm problems.

 

The Lancet study looked at data from 671 hospitals where 14,888 patients were given either hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine, with or without an antibiotic, and 81,144 patients were not given such treatments.

 

Both drugs have shown evidence of effectiveness against the coronavirus in a laboratory setting, but studies in patients had proven inconclusive. Several small studies in Europe and China spurred interest in using hydroxychloroquine against COVID-19, but were criticized for lacking scientific rigor.

 

Several more recent studies have not shown the drug to be an effective COVID-19 treatment. Last week, two studies published in the medical journal BMJ showed that patients given hydroxychloroquine did not improve significantly over those who were not.

 

Hydroxychloroquine is used to treat lupus and rheumatoid arthritis as well as malaria.

 

Hospitalized patients tend to have a more severe version of COVID-19. Some proponents of the drugs for COVID-19 argue that they may need to be administered at an earlier stage to be effective.

 

There are ongoing randomized, controlled clinical trials to study the drug's effectiveness in preventing infection by the coronavirus as well as treating mild to moderate COVID-19. Some of those may yield results within weeks.

 

(Reporting by Ankur Banerjee and Manas Mishra in Bengaluru and Michael Erman in New York; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty, Bill Berkrot, Jonathan Oatis and Will Dunham)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-05-23

 

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[metisdead]

Some posts using trolling references to President Trump have been removed. 

[smedly]

this article is misleading 

 

It deals specifically with those already infected and severely ill with CV-19 and shows that it offers nothing towards fighting the disease and puts patients already ill at higher risk - quite understandable

 

However - there are also some studies that show it helps to prevent infection and stops people getting very ill if taken with Zinc, I am not saying it does or doesn't but this why Trump is taking it - not as a treatment if already infected but to prevent infection

 

so the article headline is nonsense  

 

PS - it is worth looking into Vitamin D3 for those interested 

Edited May 23, 2020 by smedly

[stevenl]

1 hour ago, smedly said:

this article is misleading 

 

It deals specifically with those already infected and severely ill with CV-19 and shows that it offers nothing towards fighting the disease and puts patients already ill at higher risk - quite understandable

 

However - there are also some studies that show it helps to prevent infection and stops people getting very ill if taken with Zinc, I am not saying it does or doesn't but this why Trump is taking it - not as a treatment if already infected but to prevent infection

 

so the article headline is nonsense  

 

PS - it is worth looking into Vitamin D3 for those interested 

Please link to studies showing hydrochloride helps in preventing infection.

 

And no, headline is not nonsense, before his prophylaxis touting Trump was touting it as effective treatment. Maybe you have already forgotten about that.

Edited May 23, 2020 by stevenl

[VincentRJ]

Vitamin D is an essential vitamin which strengthens the immune system. Those who are lacking in Vitamin D are probably more likely to become ill after contacting Covid-19, because of a weakened immune system, but that does not mean that administering Vitamin D to a seriously ill Covid-19 patient will result in a cure, although it probably helps in the cure to some degree.

 

There is a distinction between prevention and cure. Hydroxychloroquine might play a role in prevention but it's difficult to confirm this effect in humans with clinical trials.

[johnnybangkok]

Surprise, surprise Trump, the eminent virologist and world class scientist has got it wrong.

Who would have guessed?

 

[Eric Loh]

There are many other alternative drugs beside hydroxychloroquine that are approved and available for the treatment of corona virus. The fervent defense of the drug is ridiculous. I think they are defending Trump rather than defending the drug. Such silly blind devotion. 

[stevenl]

24 minutes ago, VincentRJ said:

Vitamin D is an essential vitamin which strengthens the immune system. Those who are lacking in Vitamin D are probably more likely to become ill after contacting Covid-19, because of a weakened immune system, but that does not mean that administering Vitamin D to a seriously ill Covid-19 patient will result in a cure, although it probably helps in the cure to some degree.

 

There is a distinction between prevention and cure. Hydroxychloroquine might play a role in prevention but it's difficult to confirm this effect in humans with clinical trials.

Nice distraction attempt.

[GalaxyMan]

The BBC has an article that specifically states that your chances of dying are higher if you're given that drug.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-52779309

[thaibeachlovers]

I'm pretty sure that if Trump was using a drug that did cure Corona it wouldn't be as well publicised as when he uses one that apparently doesn't.

If Trump could really cure Corona by miracles his detractors would say it was it was faked. Doesn't matter what he does; in the eyes of some he's always wrong, PERIOD.

[thaibeachlovers]

6 minutes ago, GalaxyMan said:

The BBC has an article that specifically states that your chances of dying are higher if you're given that drug.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-52779309

I'd expect nothing less from the BBC.

[Matzzon]

3 hours ago, rooster59 said:

The anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine, which U.S. President Donald Trump says he has been taking and has urged others to use, was tied to an increased risk of death in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, a large study published on Friday showed.

Who could have imagined that? President a.k.a Supreme Doctor Trump might be wrong! ????????????

[stevenl]

9 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I'd expect nothing less from the BBC.

Exactly, factual reporting of research.

[tropo]

29 minutes ago, johnnybangkok said:

Surprise, surprise Trump, the eminent virologist and world class scientist has got it wrong.

Who would have guessed?

 

Surprise, surprise... More crazy talk from Trump haters...

 

Do you think Trump woke up one day and decided hydroxychloroquine would help people with covid-19 infections.

 

ALL of his information comes from a distinguished team of experts in all fields of medicine. He hears from the best of the best and has them at his fingertips. No one knew how effective or not this drug would be. This is a new study, and you're using it to damn Trump in hindsight. He made it quite clear it is experimental and it should be only taken as presciption medicine from your doctor. Looking for any angle to disparage Trump, this is what people can inspect.

 

Why not go around disparaging each and every doctor that has prescribed this medicine. I'm sure there are thousands that you can insult.

 

 

[rabas]

2 hours ago, smedly said:

this article is misleading 

 

It deals specifically with those already infected and severely ill with CV-19 and shows that it offers nothing towards fighting the disease and puts patients already ill at higher risk - quite understandable

 

However - there are also some studies that show it helps to prevent infection and stops people getting very ill if taken with Zinc, I am not saying it does or doesn't but this why Trump is taking it - not as a treatment if already infected but to prevent infection

 

so the article headline is nonsense  

 

PS - it is worth looking into Vitamin D3 for those interested 

No zinc.

 

Here are new papers begging these studies to include zinc. Why was it not included? Zinc's ability to fight coronavirus has been know for more than a decade.

 

June 1 (release date) suggests current studies add zinc

https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/32335560/Improving_the_efficacy_of_Chloroquine_and_Hydroxychloroquine_against_SARS-CoV-2_may_require_Zinc_additives_-_A_better_synergy_for_future_COVID-19_clinical_trials.

April 6 2020
https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202004.0124/v1

 

But granted, it's complicated.  SARS-CoV-2 may be different in ways that are not yet understood.

[4MyEgo]

I think he should increase his dose.

Edited May 23, 2020 by 4MyEgo

[tropo]

28 minutes ago, GalaxyMan said:

The BBC has an article that specifically states that your chances of dying are higher if you're given that drug.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-52779309

I see the BBC is getting in on the anti-Trump agenda too. The drug been around for 65 years, when Trump was 8 years old. The BBC need a piece of him too. The article is not worth reading due to its obvious political bias. I don't read or view anything from CNN and some others, so I now have to add BBC to the list.

 

BBC should focus on their own domestic Covid-19 disaster - currently the worst in the world.

Edited May 23, 2020 by tropo

[Chomper Higgot]

27 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I'm pretty sure that if Trump was using a drug that did cure Corona it wouldn't be as well publicised as when he uses one that apparently doesn't.

If Trump could really cure Corona by miracles his detractors would say it was it was faked. Doesn't matter what he does; in the eyes of some he's always wrong, PERIOD.

Once again an argument based on something that hasn’t happened.

[4MyEgo]

22 minutes ago, tropo said:

Surprise, surprise... More crazy talk from Trump haters...

 

Do you think Trump woke up one day and decided hydroxychloroquine would help people with covid-19 infections.

How do you actually know that he is taking it ?

 

Have you seen him drop some of these tablets, or could it be that he is using his words to get his guinea pigs to try it, if it doesn't work, well I am sure he will say, it works fine on him.

 

Just remember this guy knew what was coming around the corner when he said it was nothing more than a flu, then later he flipped and said, yeh, I knew it was bad, but I was just trying to be a cheerleader because I didn't want people to panic.

 

In my opinion, people look at leaders with the titles as President or Prime Ministers as some kind of saviours, personally, they are nothing more that real estate agents wearing suits, oh that's right Humpty Trumpty has a background in that doesn't he.

 

Everyone should do their own research, and think outside the square, especially doctors.

Edited May 23, 2020 by 4MyEgo

[ChouDoufu]

25 minutes ago, tropo said:

I see the BBC is getting in on the anti-Trump agenda too. The drug been around for 65 years, when Trump was 8 years old. The BBC need a piece of him too. The article is not worth reading due to its obvious political bias. I don't read or view anything from CNN and some others, so I now have to add BBC to the list.

 

BBC should focus on their own domestic Covid-19 disaster - currently the worst in the world.

don't discount other news sources because they're not on your team.  sometimes they do get it right.

 

why restrict your sources of information to only those that share your world-view?  that puts you deep inside an echo chamber filled with voices that only repeat the good news for your side.

 

go ahead and visit CNN and BBC.  and while you're at, stop by RT and al-jazeera to see what their slant is.  it's even worthwhile to take a peek at china daily once in a while.

 

if nothing else, it gives you an insight into the minds of the opposition members that only visit their selected and approved news sources.

[stevenl]

32 minutes ago, tropo said:

I see the BBC is getting in on the anti-Trump agenda too. The drug been around for 65 years, when Trump was 8 years old. The BBC need a piece of him too. The article is not worth reading due to its obvious political bias. I don't read or view anything from CNN and some others, so I now have to add BBC to the list.

 

BBC should focus on their own domestic Covid-19 disaster - currently the worst in the world.

Please explain why they should not report on research that indicates a medicine that worldwide and in the UK many people are taking against an illness is not working against that illness but may be negative.

[rabas]

39 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

I think he should increase his dose.

I think you need a vaccine trial ...

 

.

 

.

 

Bio-wars!

 

[Chomper Higgot]

41 minutes ago, tropo said:

I see the BBC is getting in on the anti-Trump agenda too. The drug been around for 65 years, when Trump was 8 years old. The BBC need a piece of him too. The article is not worth reading due to its obvious political bias. I don't read or view anything from CNN and some others, so I now have to add BBC to the list.

 

BBC should focus on their own domestic Covid-19 disaster - currently the worst in the world.

You have identified something as anti Trump, but you’ve identified the wrong thing.

 

The bit that is ‘anti-Trump’ is the reporting of facts and truth.

 

Truth and facts are always going to be anti-Trump.

 

 

Edited May 23, 2020 by Chomper Higgot

[johnnybangkok]

46 minutes ago, tropo said:

Surprise, surprise... More crazy talk from Trump haters...

 

Do you think Trump woke up one day and decided hydroxychloroquine would help people with covid-19 infections.

 

ALL of his information comes from a distinguished team of experts in all fields of medicine. He hears from the best of the best and has them at his fingertips. No one knew how effective or not this drug would be. This is a new study, and you're using it to damn Trump in hindsight. He made it quite clear it is experimental and it should be only taken as presciption medicine from your doctor. Looking for any angle to disparage Trump, this is what people can inspect.

 

Why not go around disparaging each and every doctor that has prescribed this medicine. I'm sure there are thousands that you can insult.

 

 

Did you manage to keep a straight face when typing 'ALL of his information comes from a distinguished team of experts in all fields of medicine. He hears from the best of the best and has them at his fingertips'?

I'm not sure what specific experts you are refering to but as far as every other expert is concerned, this drug is unproven at best, downright lethal at worse. 

 

P.S. Love your avatar. That's exactly how I picture you

Edited May 23, 2020 by johnnybangkok

[4MyEgo]

3 minutes ago, rabas said:

I think you need a vaccine trial ...

 

.

 

.

 

Bio-wars!

 

I'll have mine, straight after yours.

[ChouDoufu]

40 minutes ago, tropo said:

Surprise, surprise... More crazy talk from Trump haters...

 

Do you think Trump woke up one day and decided hydroxychloroquine would help people with covid-19 infections.

 

ALL of his information comes from a distinguished team of experts in all fields of medicine. He hears from the best of the best and has them at his fingertips. No one knew how effective or not this drug would be. This is a new study, and you're using it to damn Trump in hindsight. He made it quite clear it is experimental and it should be only taken as presciption medicine from your doctor. Looking for any angle to disparage Trump, this is what people can inspect.

 

Why not go around disparaging each and every doctor that has prescribed this medicine. I'm sure there are thousands that you can insult.

 

 

Do I think Trump woke up one day and decided hydroxychloroquine would help people with covid-19 infections?

 

yes.  that is exactly what i believe to be the case. 

 

i suspect he read some mention of the drug on the ticker at the bottom of the screen during fox&friends, and it stuck in his head.  i suspect he went with it, because it's the longest drug name he'd heard so far, so it must be tremendously great.  i suspect during briefings with his experts for the next week, his response to every subject was to inquire about chlor-aquine.  i suspect it aroused a tremendous interest in clor-ox, and other great disinfectants.  and finally, i suspect that is the reason why, on national television, he directed the "experts" to "look into" disinfecting the lungs, like with a cleaning.

[tropo]

7 minutes ago, stevenl said:

Please explain why they should not report on research that indicates a medicine that worldwide and in the UK many people are taking against an illness is not working against that illness but may be negative.

They should report on it. Nothing wrong with that. It's their obvious bias in the headline that is off putting. I won't read a report with such a headline. I hope you enjoyed it. This thread headline talks about a drug touted by Trump.... BBC took it a step further by calling it a "Trump Drug".

[tropo]

21 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

You have identified something as anti Trump, but you’ve identified the wrong thing.

 

The bit that is ‘anti-Trump’ is the reporting of facts and truth.

 

Truth and facts are always going to be anti-Trump.

 

 

It depends on what truth and facts you are using to make your point... who's going to fact check the "facts"?... or if someone calls it the truth, it must be so? Everything that comes out of the mouth of a Democrat is suspect. They need to win - they are desperate - they have a very good incentive to lie about anything and everything.

Edited May 23, 2020 by tropo

[tropo]

18 minutes ago, ChouDoufu said:

don't discount other news sources because they're not on your team.  sometimes they do get it right.

 

why restrict your sources of information to only those that share your world-view?  that puts you deep inside an echo chamber filled with voices that only repeat the good news for your side.

 

go ahead and visit CNN and BBC.  and while you're at, stop by RT and al-jazeera to see what their slant is.  it's even worthwhile to take a peek at china daily once in a while.

 

if nothing else, it gives you an insight into the minds of the opposition members that only visit their selected and approved news sources.

It's easy enough to find these scientific reports. The main stream media is fast becoming irrelevant, and somewhat annoying.

[Phil McCaverty]

58 minutes ago, rabas said:

But granted, it's complicated.  SARS-CoV-2 may be different in ways that are not yet understood.

Certainly not understood by Trump. Or is he touting the drug for personal financial gain?